Electric discharge apparatus



June 30, 194,2. F, H, G U ET AL 2,287,993

ELECTRIC DISCHARGE APPARATUS Filed' Sept. 7, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet fig: 1.

77/27/09 Device Q Q i WITNESSES: INVENTORS v M \BY-I Q 7 Win J1me 1942 F. H. GULLIKSYEQN ETAL I 7,99

ELECTRIC DISCHARGE APPARATUS Filed Sept. 7, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig-:3

WITNESSES:

INVENTORS anoCu/fen ZPearce.

BY '%40RNEY Patented June 30, -1942 UNITE ,STATES PATENT,

OFFICE ELECTRIC DISCHARGE APPARATUS Finn H. Gulliksen, Pittsburgh, Joseph W. Allison, Swarthmore, and Cullen T. Pearce, Ridley Park, Pa., asslgnors to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 7, 1939, Serial No; 293,726

9 Claims.

inherent in the usual'commercial welding generators, difilculties are encountered in obtaining suitably accurate records. In one situation of which we are aware, the voltage ripple of the generator is as high as 20 percent of the magnitude. On the other hand, the potential of the generator is adjustable from 20 volts to 160 volts, and, therefore, the ripple at the low potentials becomesappreciable. The ripple vitiates the response of the pick-up equipment and'difiiculty is encountered in distinguishing between an open circuit condition of the generator, the supply of a continuous are by the generator, the continuous short-circuit condition of the generator, and the performance of useful work.

It is, accordingly, an object of our invent-ion to provide apparatus for accurately indicating. the time during which useful work is being performed with arc-welding equipment.

Another object of our invention is to provide apparatus for clearly distinguishing between an open circuit condition of a welding generator, 8. continuous closed circuit condition of the generator, the supply of a continuous are by the generator, and the performance of useful welding.

A further object of our invention is to provide a timer-for arc-welding equipment, the response of which shall be accurate in spiteof the-fluctuations inherent in the welding generator.

A general object of our invention is to provide apparatus for indicating the time during which an electrical sourcethat is short-circuited at intervals is in the short-circuited condition.

A more specific object of our invention is to provide a timing arrangement which is to measure the length of predetermined intermittent arc is drawn More concisely stated, it is an object of our invention to provide simple, inexpensive and precise timing apparatus for arc welding equipment.

j 'I'he-arc-welding timer in accordance with our invention includes a valve which functions in ac cordance with the terminal voltage of the welding generator and controls the operation of an indicator. Specifically, an electric discharge valve having a control circuit is used. The control potential and its principal potential are derived from the welding source. When the source is open-circuited the valve is biased to a nonconductive condition. When the source is shortcircuited continuously for extensive intervals of time the valve is non-conductive because its principal potential is substantially zero. when a continuous arc is being drawn the valve is main-.-

tained non-conductive by the bias potential which exists across the arc. When useful weldtional objects and advantages thereof will best be understood from the following description of specific embodiments when'read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing an embodiment of our invention;

Fig. 2 is a graph illustratingthe operation of .apparatus in accordance with our invention;

and

. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing a modification of our invention.

The apparatus shown in Figure 1 comprises a welding generator 5 to the terminals 1 and 9 of which an arc-welding electrode H and the material l3 to be welded, respectively, arekconnected in the usual manner. Our invention is shown specifically as applied in a system in which the generator 5 is of the direct-current type. In its broadest aspects it'may be practiced with .a welding system in which the generator is of the alternating-current type.

The negative terminal I of the generator 5 is connected to the control electrode ii of an electric discharge valve J1 and the positive terminal sis connected to the cathode IQ of the valve. The valve I1 is, in accordance-withthe preferred practice of our invention, of the high vacuum type. Of course, arc-like valves or valves of other types may also be used. V

Across the terminals 1 and 9 of the generator the primary 2| of a transformer 23 is connected in series with acapacitor 25. The capacitor 25 prevents direct current from the generator from flowing through the primary 2| and saturating preferably of the alternating-current type, and

its anode 43 and cathode 31 are connected-across the supply through the exciting coil 45 of a suitable relay 41. The contact 49 of the relay opens and closes a circuit through a timer 5| which is supplied from the source 4|.

In Fig. 2 the terminal potential of the welding generator 5 during a welding operation is plotted asa function of time. Initially the welding generator is open-circuited and its terminal potential is high as represented by the portion 53 of the curve 55 adjacent to the potential axis 51. Under such circumstances the negative bias impressed .by the generator 5 between the conreestablished. The are is follo'"ed by another short circuit and this, in turn, is followed by another are. The operation of the apparatus continues in this manner until the welding is discontinued. As the arcs are reestablished after each short circuit, the bias potential supplied by.

the welding generator renders the high-vacuum valve l1 non-conductive. Thecapacitor 33 in parallel with the resistor 3| serves to suppress the effect of the short irregular fluctuations in the generatorpotential and, therefore, the timer 5| does not follow the high vacuum valve H but operates continuously so long as useful work' is being performed.

The capacitor 33 is charged by the current flow through the high vacuum valve I1 and when the valve becomes non-conductive for an instant, the

trol electrode I5 and the cathode l9 of the hlg'h- 1 vacuum valve I1 maintains the latter substantially non-conductive. The current flow through the resistor 3| in series with the valve is, therefore, small and the arc-like valve 39 is conductive since its control electrode is substantially at the potential of its cathode 31. The relay 41 is, therefore, energized and the circuit through the timer 5l-is open.

As the operator brings the welding electrode up to the material l3, an arc is ignited between the electrode and the material, and the terminal potential is reduced to an intermediate value as represented by the portion 59 of the curve 55 adjacent to that representing the open circuit potential. Under such circumstances the generator potential is still sufliciently high to bias the high-vacuum valve H to non-conductivity and the timer 5| is still deenergized. When the electrode metal melts and drops to the material |3 to produce a weld, the generator is abruptly short-circuited, and its potential is substantially reduced as represented by the hollow portion 3| adjacent to the arc potential-portion 59 of the curve. The control potential of the high vacuum valve I1 is now reduced so that if anodecathode potential of suflic'ient magnitude is im- .conductive and current flows through the resistor- 3'|. The potential drop across the resistor is impressed as a blocking potential between the control electrode 35 and the cathode 31 of the arelike' valve 39, and the latter is rendered nonconductive. The relay- 41 is then deenergized and the circuit through the timer 5| is closed.

The short-circuit produced by the flow of metal persits for only a short interval of time as indicated in Fig. 2 and thereafter an arc is The capacitor is discharged through the resistor 3| and maintains the gaseous valve conductive. The timer 5| thus continues to operate in spite of the discontinuance of the flow of current through the high-vacuum valve. The capacitor 33 and the resistor 3| are so dimensioned that the timing continues for an'interval of the order of a half second to a second after the fiow of current through the high-vacuum valve is interrupted. If, however, an arc is drawn between the electrode II and the work l3 for an interval of time longer than that permitted by the setting of the capacitor-resistor network, as is represented by the right-hand portion 63 of the curve 55 in Fig. 2, the arc-like valve 39 again becomes conductive and the timing is interrupted.

In the apparatus shown in Fig. 3 a pair. of resistors 65 and 61 are' connected across the generator 5 in parallel with the capacitor 25 and the primary 2| of the transformer 23. The control electrode 69 of an electric discharge valve 1| which may be of the high vacuum type is connected to the junction point of the two resistors.

55 and 61 through a grid resistor 13 and still another resistor 15. A second capacitor 11 interconnects the negative terminal 1 of the generator 5 and the' junction of the third resistor 15 and the grid resistor 13. The cathode 19 of the valve 1| is connected to the positive terminal '1 9 of the generator 5'. The anode BI and the oathode 19 are interconnected through the secondary nected to the upper terminal of the voltagedivider 83 through a" resistor 95. Between the anode 91 and the cathode 93 of the valve a capacitor 99 is connected through 'a current limiting resistor NH. The capacitor 99 is maintained charged from a rectifier I03 which is, in turn, supplied from the alternating-current source 4|.

The charging circuit for the capacitor extends from the positive terminal I95 of the rectifier through a resistor I01, the capacitor 99, the resistor 95 to the negative terminal I09 of the rectifler.

The plate of the capacitor 99 which is charged positive is connected to the cathode of another electric discharge valve N3 -of the arc-.like type. The control electrode 1 l5 of the valve is connected to the junction point of two resistors H1 and 9 which are connected in parallel with the capacitor 99 and the resistor I01 through which it is charged. The last-mentioned valve a timer I3I.

I I3 is supplied with anode-cathode potential from the secondary I2I of a transformer I23.

primary I25 'of the transformer is connected to a secondary section I2I of a trans-- the bias potential impressed from the resistorI I9 and the capacitor 99.

When the generator is momentarily short-' circuited during a welding operation, the poten- The tions. The tuning capacitor I33 in parallel with the timer I3I facilitates its operation since it the control circuit of the valve is at this time fully charged but it has no effect on its conduc- The other arc-like tial across the-left-hand resistor 65 is substan-' I t-ally reduced and a high anode-cathode poten-- tial is impressed on the valve II. In view of the fact that the current flow from the generator 5 during an instantaneous short-circuit is large,

the potential drop in the leads I and I31 from i the generator may be large and a substantial ncgative potential may still be impressed in the control circuit of the high-vacuum valve from the resistor 65. However, the latter potential is counteracted by the potential drop across the resistor I5 'in series with the control electrode 69 which is produced by the discharge of the capacitor 11 in the control circuit. The high-vacuum valve, therefore, conducts substantial current through the voltage divider 83, rendering -the adjustable tap 8| of the voltage divider substan- Q tially positive with reference to the upper terminal. The bias impressed in the control circuit of the first-mentioned arc-like valve 3| is, therefore, counteracted and the valve is rendered conductive, discharging the capacitor 99 in parallel therewith.

The impedance in circuit with the capacitor 99 is small and it is discharged instantaneously. A

portion of the biasing potential in the control circuit of the second arc-like valve H3 is thus ab-. sorbed and the valve is rendered conductive. The

open circuit which existed across the transformer I23 in serieswith the timer I3I is closed and the timer carries substantial current. Because of the inductance which exists in the conductors associated with the first valve 9|, the capacitor 99 recharges slightly to the opposite-polarity when it is discharged and the valve 9| is extinguished .soon after the'capacitor is discharged. The capacitor 99 is now recharged but the second arclike valve I33 continues to conduct current during alternate half-cycles of the source M until the recharging potential attains predetermined magnitude. The time interval involved-here is dependent on themagnitudes of thecharging resistors I01 and "95 and is of the order of onehalf second to a second. As the welding progresses the timer thus continues to record the time spent in useful welding regardless of the irregularities in the individual welding operaterposing suitable rectifiers between the control circuit of the valve and the generator.

When a continuous arc is drawn for any substantiallength of time with a-welder the work is badly pitted. It is therefore desirable that .the

people in charge of a welding plant be informed when this condition exists. During working hours in a welding shop the generators are rarely short-circuited or open circuited and, therefore. the failure of the timer to indicate useful work is an indication of excessive continuous arcing. To enable the shop foreman to suppress continuous arcing as-far as possible a light or sound signal may be connected in parallel with the timer in such manner thatit operates when the timer does not. When the foreman sees a continuous signal he can go to the bench to which it corresponds and determine what the difficulty is. The signal also informs the operator that he is welding improperly. A switch may be provided in series with both the timer and the signal so that an operator who desiresv to leave the work'for a short time can prevent the signal from being actuated.

Although we have shown and described certain specific embodiments of our invention, we are fully awarethat many modifications thereof are possible. Our invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit ofthe appended claims.

We claim as our invention; 1. For use in actuating a timer that times the operation of an arc-welder supplied from a potential source, the combination comprising electric discharge valve means having control circuit I means and principal-circuit means interposed between said source and said timer and means for impressing the terminalpotential of said source on said control circuit means and on said principal circuit means.

' 2. For use in actuating a timer that times the operation of an arc-welder supplied from a potential source, the combination comprising electric discharge valve means having a control cirficuit means and principal circuit means interposed between said source and said timer meana for impressing a voltage proportional to the ter minal potential of said arc-welder in said control circuit means and means comprising a trans-. former,-the primary of which is energized fromthe voltage-drop across said arc-welder and the secondary of which energizes said principal circuitmeans for actuating said timer.

3. For use in actuating a timer that times the operation of 'an arc-welder supplied from a potential source, the combination comprising lectric discharge valve means having a control circuit means and principal circuit means interposed between said source and said timer, means for impressing a voltage proportional to the terminal potential of said arc-welder in'said control circuit means and means comprising a transformer, the primary'of which is connected in shunt-circuit relation with said source and thesecondary of which is connected in series-circuit relation with said principal circuit means to control operating-energy flow to said timer and a capacitor interposed between said primary and said source.

4. For use with a potential source that is shortcircuited at intervals the combination comprising an electric discharge valve having a plurality of principal-electrodes and a control electrode, means for connecting said source between said control electrode and one of saidprincipal electrodes in such a sense that when it is not short-circuited its terminal potential biases said valve to non-conductivity, and .means for impressing a' potential derived from said source as a result of short-circuit between said principal electrodes.

5. For use with a potential sourcethat is shortcircuited at intervals the combinationcomprising trodes.

aaezoos circuited at intervals the combination comprising an electric discharge valve having a plurality of principal electrodes and a control electrode. means for connecting said source between said control electrode and one of said principal electrodes, a transformer, means including direct- .current blocking means for connecting the primary of said transformer across said source and means for' connecting the secondary of said transformer in circuit with said principal elecprimary of said transformer across said source an electric discharge valve having a plurality of principal electrodes and a control electrode, I

means for connecting said source between said control electrode and one of said principal electrodes, a transformer, means for connecting the primary of said transformer across said source and means for connecting the secondary of said transformer in circuit with said principal electrodes.

6. For use with a potential source that is short-circuited at intervals the combination comprising an electric discharge valve having a plurality of principal electrodes and a control electrode, means for connecting said source between said control electrode and one of said principal electrodes in such manner that said source applies a blocking potential on said valve, a transformer, means for connecting the primary of said transformer across said source and means for connecting the secondary of said transformer in and means for connecting the secondary of said transformer in circuit with said principal electrodes.

9. For use with a source that is substantially short-circuited at intervals the combination comprising an electric discharge valve having a control electrode and a plurality of principal electrodes, means for connecting the terminals of said source between said control electrode and one'of said principal electrodes, charge storing means connected between said control electrode and one of the terminals ofsaid source and means for discharging said storing means when said source is short-circ'uited in such a sense that the potential resulting from the discharge varies the potential between said control electrode and one principal electrode in the same sense as it is varied by said short circuit.

FINN H. GULLIKSEN. JOSEPH W. ALLISON. CULLEN T. PEARCE. 

